Characteristics of Mangrove Forests
The Ha Tien section, located in My Duc, Ha Tien city, has a plot size of 100 square meters with a tree density ranging from 63 to 99 trees. In addition, there is a protection forest band extending from 50 to 100 meters, and the height of the forest ranges from 3.67 to 8.77 meters. The diameter of the trees (measured at 1.3 meters above the ground) ranges from 4.17 to 13.26 centimeters. The canopy diameter of the trees ranges from 1.35 to 4.62 meters, and the tree canopy cross-sectional area ranges from 1.43 to 16.76 square meters. The surface area covered by the tree canopy in the plot ranges from 67 to 240 square meters, as shown in
Table 1. This information provides insight into the composition and characteristics of the forest in the Ha Tien section. The tree density, canopy size, and cross-sectional area can help estimate the forest’s overall biomass and carbon storage potential. The diameter and height measurements can also be used to estimate the age and health of the trees, which are essential factors in forest management and conservation. Overall, this data is helpful in understanding the ecological and environmental value of the Ha Tien section and can inform decisions regarding its management and protection.
The Kien Luong section, spanning from Ta Sang, Duong Hoa to Rach Dung, Binh Tri, has a variable tree density ranging from 16 to 105 trees per plot. The height of the trees in this section ranges from 3.67 to 8.77 meters, and the diameter of the tree trunks measured 1.3 meters from the ground varies from 4.17 to 13.26 centimeters across different locations. The canopy diameter of the trees ranges from 1.35 to 4.62 meters, and the cross-sectional area of the tree canopy in the plot ranges from 1.43 to 16.76 square meters. The plot’s canopy area covered by the trees ranges from 67 to 241 square meters, as shown in
Table 2. This data provides valuable information about the forest in the Kien Luong section, including its density, size, and ecological value. The varying tree density and diameter measurements can help estimate the trees’ age and health and provide insights into the forest’s biodiversity. The tree canopy size and cross-sectional area can also be used to estimate the forest’s overall biomass and carbon storage potential, which is essential for sustainable forest management and conservation efforts.
The area of Hon Dat, spanning from Binh Giang to My Lam, has a tree density ranging from 11 to 93 trees per 100 square meters in the plot. The protection forest band ranges from 0 to 35 meters, and the forest height varies from 5.54 to 9.04 meters. The diameter of the tree trunks measured at 1.3 meters above the ground ranges from 5.76 to 17.90 centimeters. The canopy diameter of the trees varies from 1.63 to 5.56 meters, and the cross-sectional area of the tree canopy ranges from 2.09 to 24.28 square meters. The total canopy cross-sectional area of the trees in the plots ranges from 147 to 557 square meters, as shown in
Table 3 and
Table 4.
This information provides valuable insights into the composition and characteristics of the forest in Hon Dat. The tree density, height, and diameter measurements can help estimate the forest’s overall biomass and carbon storage potential. The tree canopy size and cross-sectional area can also be used to estimate the forest’s contribution to the local hydrological cycle, such as through interception and evapotranspiration. Moreover, the protection forest band is essential to forest management in protecting against soil erosion, landslides, and other natural hazards. The information provided in the tables can be used to evaluate the ecological value of the forest and guide management practices for sustainable forest use and conservation.
The An Bien section, spanning from 3 Bien in Nam Yen commune to Xeo Quao in Nam Thai commune, has a tree density in plots ranging from 12 to 46 trees per 100 square meters. The protection forest band in this section ranges from 30 to 200 meters, and the forest height varies from 4.73 to 13.50 meters. The diameter of the trees measured at 1.3 meters above the ground ranges from 4.93 to 21.09 centimeters. The canopy diameter of the trees varies from 1.45 to 4.45 meters, and the cross-sectional area of the tree canopy ranges from 1.65 to 15.55 square meters. The total cross-sectional area of the tree canopy in the plots ranges from 45 to 363 square meters, as shown in
Table 5 and
Table 6. This information provides valuable insights into the composition and characteristics of the forest in the An Bien section. The tree density, height, and diameter measurements can help estimate the forest’s overall biomass and carbon storage potential. The tree canopy size and cross-sectional area can also be used to estimate the forest’s contribution to the local hydrological cycle, such as through interception and evapotranspiration. Moreover, the protection forest band is essential to forest management in protecting against soil erosion, landslides, and other natural hazards. The information provided in the tables can be used to evaluate the ecological value of the forest and guide management practices for sustainable forest use and conservation.
The An Minh section, extending from Kien Giang to U Minh in Ca Mau, has a tree density in plots ranging from 11 to 41 trees per 100 square meters. The protection forest band in this section ranges from 0 to 20 meters, and the forest height varies from 4.06 to 7.64 meters. The diameter of the trees measured at 1.3 meters above the ground ranges from 5.73 to 14.91 centimeters. The canopy diameter of the trees varies from 1.65 to 4.49 meters, and the cross-sectional area of the tree canopy ranges from 2.14 to 15.83 square meters. The total cross-sectional area of the tree canopy in the plots ranges from 66 to 222 square meters, as shown in
Table 7 and
Table 8.
This information can be helpful in understanding the composition and characteristics of the forest in the An Minh section. The tree density and diameter measurements can provide insights into the forest’s overall biomass and carbon storage potential. The tree canopy size and cross-sectional area can also be used to estimate the forest’s contribution to local hydrological cycles, such as through interception and evapotranspiration. The protection forest band is an essential component of forest management in protecting against soil erosion, landslides, and other natural hazards. The data provided in the tables can be used to evaluate the ecological value of the forest and guide management practices for sustainable forest use and conservation.
The forest level is classified based on several factors, including the status of the mangrove forest, density calculation, canopy height, tree trunk size, and ground cover. The classification ranges from F1, a forest without erosion, to F5, a forest with very dangerous erosion. The formula used to calculate the classification is (Hmax - Hmin + D1,3max - D1.3min + Dcmax - Dcmin + N/ha.max - N/ha.min + Sc/ha. max - Sc/ha. min)/5, where H is the height of the tallest and lowest species, D1.3m is the trunk size at 1.3m of the tallest and lowest species, Dc is the canopy diameter of the tallest and lowest species, N/ha is the tree density per hectare of the tallest and lowest species, and Sc/ha is the forest canopy area of the tallest and lowest species. The forest level classification for the West Sea region is presented in
Table 9,
Table 10 and
Table 11, which shows the level of erosion risk for each forest level.
Accoringly, F1: N(96) + H(13) + D1.3(19) + Dc(5) + Gc(22) + Gc/plot(506) + Rd(272), F2: N(76) + H(11) + D1,3(16) + Dt(4) + Gt(17) + Gc/plot(403) + Rd(215), F3: N(58) + H(9) + D1.3(13) + Dc(3) + Gc(13) + Gc/plot(301) + Rd(157), F4: N(39) + H(7) + D1,3(9) + Dc(2.5) + Gc(8) + Gc/plot(199) + Rd(100), F5: N(20)+H(5) + D1.3(6) + Dc(1,8) + Gc(3.5) + Gc/plot(96) + Rd(43) with F1 = 1+1+1+1+1+1+1/7 = 1 , F2 = 0.80 + 0.84 + 0.83 + 0,.3 + 0.79 + 0.80 + 0.79 = 0.79, F3 = 0.61 + 0.69 + 0.65 + 0.67 + 0.59 + 0.59 + 0.58 = 0.63, F4 = 0.41 + 0.53 + 0.48 + 0.44 + 0.37 + 0.39 + 0.37 = 0.42, and F5 = 0.21 + 0.37 + 0.30 + 0.25 + 0.17 + 0.19 + 0.16 = 0.24
F1 is a sustainable forest class with no erosion. It has a high density of 96 trees per 100 square meters or 9600 trees per hectare, indicating a rich forest cover. The height of the trees is 13 meters, and the diameter at 1.3 meters is 19 centimeters, suggesting that the trees are healthy and mature. The canopy size of each tree is 22 square meters, and the total canopy coverage of the forest is 506 square meters, which indicates that the forest is dense and provides ample shade. The forest band is 272 meters, meaning that the forest has a wide buffer zone and is well protected from external factors that could cause erosion. Overall, the F1 forest is sustainable with no erosion, and its characteristics demonstrate its ecological richness and health. The density of the forest was 96 trees/100 m2 (9600 trees/ha), the height of the tree was 13 m, the diameter of the tree at 1.3 was 19 cm, the canopy of the tree was 22 m2, the canopy of tree was 506 m2, the forest band was 272 m is the no erosion.
F2 is a forest class with low to moderate erosion risk. It has a density of 77 trees per 100 square meters (7700 trees per hectare) with a total canopy coverage of 403 square meters. The forest band is 15 meters. Although there is some level of erosion present, it is considered small.
F3 belongs to the medium erosion forest category. The forest density is 58 trees per 100 square meters (5800 trees per hectare), with a height of 9 meters and a diameter of 13 centimeters at 1.3 meters. The canopy of each tree is 13 square meters, and the total canopy coverage in the plot is 301 square meters. The forest band is 157 meters, indicating a moderate level of erosion.
F4 is a forest with a high level of erosion. It has a density of 39 trees per 100 square meters (3900 trees per hectare) with a height of 7 meters and a diameter of 1.3 meters of 9 centimeters. The canopy diameter is 2.5 meters with a cross-sectional area of 8 square meters and a total canopy coverage of 199 square meters. The forest band is 100 meters, which is classified as dangerous erosion.
F5 is a forest with a high risk of erosion, with a low density of 20 trees per 100 square meters (2000 trees per hectare). The height of the trees is 5 meters, and the trunk’s diameter at 1.3 meters is 6 centimeters. The canopy size of each tree is 1.8 square meters, with a total canopy coverage of 3.5 square meters. The total canopy coverage per plot is 96 square meters, and the forest band is 43 meters.
Kien Giang is a province with a coastline of 205 km that has experienced significant erosion of its mangrove forests. According to mangrove statistics from 1999 to 2006, the area of mangrove forests has increased from 3,936 ha to 5,430 ha (GIZ 2008). Most mangrove forest is found in the An Bien and An Minh districts, with a width ranging from 20 to 500 meters. However, satellite image analysis in 2012 showed that the remaining mangrove forest in Kien Giang province is only 3,500 hectares with a narrow forest band of 10 meters (GIZ 2012). Despite the small size, the mangrove forest is home to 27 plant species, with Avicennia being the most dominant species (50%), followed by Sonneratia (19%) and Rhizophora (9%) (Duke et al 2010). Unfortunately, the mangrove forests of Kien Giang province are facing severe erosion, with a total of 69.8 km eroded between 2009 and 2020. Out of this, 35 km is classified as dangerous erosion, with the most affected areas being An Bien (5 km), Kien Luong (3 km), Hon Dat (7 km), and An Minh (20 km). On average, the province experiences 20 km of erosion per year, with An Minh district experiencing 20-50 km of erosion over the last ten years, resulting in the loss of 300 ha of forest. Moving from the Tieu Dua canal in Kien Giang to Huong gate in U Minh, Ca Mau, the danger of erosion is 20m/year. From Huong Mai gate to Khanh Hoi, the threat of erosion increases to 50m/year, while from Khanh Hoi to Khanh Binh Tay Bac, the threat reduces to 20m/year. From Khanh Binh Tay Bac gate to Song Doc, the danger increases to 50m/year; from Song Doc to the end of the west coast, the threat of erosion is very great. The province’s east coast is experiencing extreme erosion of up to 50 m/year, while the Viet Khai commune section is losing land area at an average rate of 4.73 km2/year.
Kien Giang province has experienced significant erosion along its coastline, with a total length of 64.37 km affected. According to the Kien Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (2020), 31.21 km of the coastline has already eroded, with 21.91 km classified as dangerous. Specifically, the areas of Kim Qui, An Bien, An Minh, Hon Dat, and Tieu Dua-Chu Vang (An Minh) have experienced hazardous erosion. The section of the coastline at Binh Giang (Hon Dat) is particularly affected, with a length of 4 km classified as dangerous. With a distance of 154 km, Ca Mau has over 80% of its size eroded. Through monitoring (GIZ Kien Giang 2012; Kien Giang Protection Forest Management Board 2020), the average landslide speed is 20 – 25 m / year, up to 50 m /year in some locations. The west coast of Ca Mau eroded wass 57 km, with many sections, not forest; the forest band is thinning. Currently, eroded is more dangerous, the protection disappears, and the dyke of the sea is threatened by big waves and high winds. The risk of broken dyke, especially in the rainy season, the southwest wind, and the high tide.